Convertible desk



p 1964 R. a. wl LM ER 3,149,891

' CONVERTIBLE DESK Filed April 25. 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 R.H.WILME BY M M ATTORNEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. H. WILMER CONVERTIBLE DESK Sept. 22, 1964 Filed April 2;, 1962 Sept. 22, 1964 H, WILMER CONVERTIBLE DESK 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 23, 1962 R O N E V m Sept. 22, 1964 R. H.QWILMER CONVERTIBLE DESK 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 23. 1962 INVENTOR u I. g.

A ORNEY Rid .WLLMER United States Patent 3,149,891 CONVERTIBLE DESK Rudolph H. Wilmer, Youngstown, Ohio, assiguor to The General Fireproofing Company, Youngstown, Ohio, a

corporation of Ghio Filed Apr. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 189,347 1 Claim. (Cl. 312194) This invention relates to desks and the like which include a service top mounted on suitable framework. In most cases the framework is supported on one or more pedestals, but insofar as the present invention is concerned, the improvements would apply to contemporary styling where many desks have the appearance of tables, particularly where storage capacity is not a factor.

Heretofore, it has been generally customary to provide one or more slidable work supports flanking a center drawer. In some cases these supports are in the form of shallow compartmented drawers and, in other cases, they provide solid extended writing or article supporting surfaces at either side of the position occupied by the user.

Where economy is a factor in buying ofiice equipment, cost-conscious purchasers find that some or all of the slidable members may be dispensed with. In that case, the ultimate cost of the desk as a unit is reduced. In situations where desks are purchased in large quantities, the savings would be substantial.

However, from the standpoint of the manufacturer, it is impractical and not mechanically feasible materially to alter the basic structure of the desk, but, if the center drawer or slidable supports are omitted, the space which they would normally otherwise occupy, must, for the sake of safety to the user and general appearance, be closed in some practical manner to maintain the esthetic quality of the desk although some of its conveniences are omitted.

Accordingly, one of the objects of the invention is to provide a convertible desk in the sense that it may be manufactured originally to receive a center drawer and side supports, but, where the purchaser does not desire these items, the space or openings where such items would normally be, are closed by a mask or panel so that for all intents and purposes the general ornamental features of the desk will be preserved. On the other hand, where the center drawer and side supports are desired in the first instance panels are omitted; or if the desk is originally sold with the panels and it is later desired to convert to additional capacity, the panels may be removed and the selected equipment readily inserted in place.

A further object of the invention is to provide opening masking panels which may be readily made in accordance with standard metal working procedures and readily fitted in the proper opening of the frame for the top by the simple act of inserting them in place and then securing them against accidental detachment.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a desk embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a detail perspective view of one of the panels in relation to the supporting framework of the desk and illustrating the manner of supporting the same in the framework.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective View illustrating how the panel of FIGURE 2 appears when it is ultimately in place.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view illustrating one of the panels of FIG. 3 incorporated in the desk framework.

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal cross section taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a detail vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the front panel for the center drawer location.

FIGURE 8 is a detail cross sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a partial plan view of the panel of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 10 is a front elevation view of the panel as shown in FIGURE 9.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, it will be observed that the desk includes the horizontal service top A and the vertically disposed top supporting framework B with the opposite side pedestals C defining a knee-hole space beneath the top.

The framework B has a series of horizontally alined spaced openings respectively, above each of the pedestals C and the knee-hole space. The openings for the slidable supports are covered by a panel D and the opening for the center drawer is closed by a panel E. All of the panels D and B have the common characteristic of an exposed front wall 1, rearwardly extending top and bottom flanges 2, and the rearwardly directed wing portions 3.

As will be seen from FIGURE 2, the panels D, of which there are two in FIGURE 1, include the elements above referred to. Each of the wing portions 3 are provided with slots 4 extending downwardly from the upper edges thereof and having near one bottom corner, a fastening receiving opening 5. The slot 4 is intended to receive an abutment lug 6 struck out from opposite sides of the frame B of the desk so that the front panel D may be slid into the opening defined beneath the top by the frames of the pedestals C. Once the front D is moved horizontally into a position where the slot 4 registers with the lug 6, the panel D may be lifted until the fastening receiving opening 5 registers with its counterpart in the frame B. Thereafter, a fastening such as a screw 7 may be inserted in the registering opening to hold the slotted wings of the false panel in place.

It will, of course, be understood that the above construction and arrangement prevails in connection with both of the panels D shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURES 8 and 9 illustrate the center drawer panel E. The face 10 of said panel has the top and bottom rearwardly extending flanges 11 and 12, and the inwardly and rearwardly extending wings 1313. As will appear from FIGURES 8 and 9, the wings 13 include the relatively oblique folded portion 14 so that wings 13 are spaced inwardly relative to the front face of the panel E, and the front face of the panel fills the gap due to the adjacent rounded corner portions of the pedestal.

As will also be seen from FIGURES 7 and 8, the top flanges 11 and the top flanges 13 of the Wings 13 are provided with fastening receiving openings 15-16, respectively, so that the center drawer panel E may be readily secured to the underside of the framework B by fastenings 17-18, as shown in FIGURE 8.

The center drawer panel B is shown as including a key barrell 19 and a lock 20 for cooperation with a locking mechanism F, as shown in Patent No. 2,793,927, dated May 27, 1957, because where pedestals are used with drawers, it is desirable to provide locking means for such drawers, even though no center drawer is used.

Normally the key-controlled locking mechanism shown $8 is carried by the front of the center drawer if such drawer is a part of original equipment.

Where pedestal drawers are not used or no lock is required if they are present, the panel B will have a plain face because no key barrel is necesasry. Thus the panel E will have only the structural characteristics essentially common to all of the panels.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that the objectives set forth are realized on the basis of a new concept in desk manufacture.

I claim: A convertible desk construction enabling a manufac turer to fabricate a complete desk except for a center drawer and separate pull-out leaves, including,

spaced drawer pedestals supporting a top and having pull-out openings and a center drawer opening,

detachable and replaceable closure panels for said pull-out openings and each including a front wall having integral resilient rearwardly disposed locking wings for slidable retentive insertion into the sides of said pull-out openings, each front wall of the panel dimensioned to close a related opening,

said panel for closing the opening for the center drawer having integral wings inset from the sides of the panel and also having integral top and bottom inwardly disposed fianges to provide support for a portion of a drawer locking member, and cooperating means on the prefabricated part of the desk and panel Wings for connecting said wings to the frame against accidental removal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Rand July 18, Coordes Feb. 14, Wells Nov. 10, Kass July 11, McCobb July 2,

FOREIGN PATENTS France Mar. 5, France June 20, 

